Fairness for Pilots Act introduced in HouseFairness for Pilots Act introduced in House

April 20, 2017By Dan Namowitz

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and three original co-sponsors have introduced the Fairness for Pilots Act in the House of Representatives, following the introduction of identical legislation in the Senate in March by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.).

Photo by Mike Fizer.

Graves, who co-chairs the House General Aviation Caucus, was joined by original co-sponsors Reps. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), Colin Peterson (D-Minn.)—both AOPA members—and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), also a strong GA supporter. Graves, Rokita, and Lipinski are members of the House Aviation Subcommittee.

“As a pilot and Co-Chairman of the General Aviation Caucus, I have always felt the responsibility to be a voice for GA in the Capitol,” Graves said. “Unnecessary regulations and bureaucratic barriers cost the industry jobs and prevent pilots from flying. I’m proud today to introduce a bill that improves upon the protections established under the original Pilots Bill of Rights, ensuring we can continue safely taking to the skies and operating as a valuable and vibrant component of the U.S. economy.”

The same four House members introduced the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 in the House during the last Congress. Although the pilots’ rights legislation passed the Senate three times, only the section mandating third class medical reform became law.

“AOPA supports efforts in Congress to increase protections for pilots that will help preserve general aviation’s many contributions to communities of all sizes, including 1.1 million well-paying jobs," said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We thank Congressman Graves for his leadership in introducing the Fairness for Pilots Act in the House of Representatives and will work with both chambers to move this forward.”

The 2017 measures now introduced in both houses contain provisions for fairer treatment of pilots in FAA investigations, and would require the FAA to expedite its efforts to improve the flight information it provides.

During FAA investigations or enforcement actions against a pilot, the agency would be required to “articulate the specific activity under investigation” and provide documentation.

Aviators would gain the right “to appeal an FAA decision through a new, merit-based trial in Federal Court.”

Other provisions would speed up the Notices to Airmen (notam) Improvement Program updates that were mandated in the original 2012 Pilot’s Bill of Rights, require that the FAA include the effective duration of temporary flight restrictions in notams, and certify notam accuracy.

Dan Namowitz

Associate Editor Web

Associate Editor Web Dan Namowitz has been writing for AOPA in a variety of capacities since 1991. He has been a flight instructor since 1990 and is a 30-year AOPA member.